Jena, Germany/ New Orleans, USA, 13 October 2012 -- The Microscopy business group at Carl Zeiss is presenting a new technology at the Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Lightsheet Z.1 provides biologists with a new method of imaging dynamic processes in living organisms.

Biologists can use the new microscopy system to observe the development of entire organisms over several days or more. The extremely low phototoxicity and the integrated incubation enable gentle imaging of specimens over hours to days. On large objects, in particular, such as fruit fly or zebra fish embryos, the light sheet microscope delivers more information than established methods of fluorescence microscopy. "The bigger the sample, the more you can get out of it with light sheet microscopy," says Dr. Pavel Tomancák from the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics in Dresden, Germany, describing the benefits of the new method. Lightsheet Z.1 can also be used in marine and cell biology, as well as plant physiology.

Lightsheet Z.1 works with an expanded light beam (the light sheet) that illuminates only a thin section of the sample, thus protecting the rest of the specimen. Images are captured at a 90 degree angle to the light sheet. Therefore, Lightsheet Z.1 achieves maximum image quality at minimal illumination intensity and is particularly well-suited for long-term examinations of living specimens. Multiview imaging allows data acquisition from different viewing angles. These can be combined through mathematical algorithms into 3D reconstructions and time-lapse videos.

The light sheet system of the Lightsheet Z.1 uses a new type of optical concept that combines cylindrical lens optics with laser scanning. Users receive homogeneously illuminated optical sections of complete examination objects.

Carl Zeiss Microscopy, LLC, offers microscopy solutions and systems for research, routine, and industrial applications. In addition, Carl Zeiss Microscopy markets microscopy systems for the clinical market, as well as optical sensor systems for industrial and pharmaceutical applications. Since 1846, Carl Zeiss has remained committed to enabling science and technology to go beyond what man can see. Today, Carl Zeiss is a global leader in the optical and opto-electronic industries.

With 12,872 current employees and offices in over 30 countries, Carl Zeiss is represented in more than 100 countries with production centers in Europe, North America, Central America and Asia. For more information on the breadth of solutions offered by Carl Zeiss Microscopy, please visit www.zeiss.com/micro.